The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Constable, Masudul Rahman, who shot down his five colleagues and injured two, on December 4, was killed in cross-firing by Surjit Sarkar, as confirmed by Mohit Garg, Superintendent of Police (SP) Narayanpur, to The Logical Indian. 

On the initial reports of suicide, family members of the ITBP constable contended that he didn’t commit suicide but was killed. The family members had demanded an inquiry into this, PTI reported.  

Masudul’s mother Hanifa Bibi said that his non-sanctioning of leaves was the reason for him to commit suicide. 

“We were planning for his marriage and had found a good match. Now everything is shattered,” Masudul’s father, Marfat Sheikh said. 

Officials have confirmed that Masudul’s leave was sanctioned and he was supposed to go home on the same day of the incident. 

On the reason for suicide, SP Mohit Garg said, “He was not satisfied with the leave that was sanctioned to him by ITBP. He wanted the leave for a different period, presumably for his marriage purpose only. On the day of the shooting incident, he got into a minor scuffle with his colleagues.” SP Garg added, “from his records, he doesn’t have any past history of indiscipline or of fighting with his colleagues.”  

During the scuffle Constable Rahman had picked up Constable Bijeesh’s AK-47 rifle to shoot his colleagues. Rahman didn’t have any weapons as he had deposited his weapons to the unit’s armoury after his leave was sanctioned. 

The incident occurred at around 9 am on December 4 at B/45 battalion of ITBP camp in Kadenar region of Narayanpur district.

The five victims were identified as constables Biswaroop Mahto, Bijeesh and Surjit Sarkar, and Head Constables Mahendra Singh and Daljit Singh. 

The other two injured are constables SB Ullas and Sitaram Doon.

The Kadenar region is a stronghold of Maoists. The ITBP has been deployed there for counter-insurgency operations.   

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